In brief
Aquastar Corp. has expanded its recall of frozen and cooked shrimp after potential radioactive contamination with cesium 137 was detected. The majority of the recalled products were found in Kroger grocery stores in various states, leading to health concerns from the FDA. Previous recalls and ongoing investigations highlight the need for thorough public communication regarding food safety.
A Seattle seafood distributor has recalled more cooked and frozen shrimp sold at Kroger grocery stores across the U.S. due to ongoing concerns about potential radioactive contamination.
Aquastar Corp. on Saturday recalled nearly 157,000 additional pounds of shrimp because of possible contamination with cesium 137, a radioactive isotope. This recall includes nearly 50,000 bags of Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp, about 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, and more than 17,000 bags of AquaStar Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers.
The products were sold between June 12 and September 17 at grocery stores in more than 30 states, including major retailers like City Market, Foodsco, Fred Meyer, and many others.
This recall marks the latest in an ongoing investigation concerning cesium 137 contamination, which is a byproduct of nuclear reactions. Although the FDA indicates the risk appears to be small, they recognize that shrimp exposed to low levels of cesium 137 over time may pose a potential health concern.
Previously, shrimp products were recalled in August due to similar safety concerns. The FDA has urged consumers not to eat shrimp imported from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian company, after cesium 137 was detected in shipments to U.S. ports.
Health experts agree that while the contamination levels found (approximately 68 becquerels per kilogram) are below the FDA's threshold (1,200 becquerels per kilogram) for health protections, the source of the radioactive material needs thorough investigation and transparency to assure public safety.
More than 3 million pounds of shrimp exported by BMS Foods have been monitored in September, with the FDA implementing alerts to prevent potential contamination. Meanwhile, officials continue to examine the sources of the cesium 137 found in the shrimp, proposing that it may originate from industrial activity at the processing site.
